Origin Of x Norrisii

We know that Iris x norrisii arises from crosess involving two species.

Iris dichotoma

and

Iris domestica

'Shilka'

But the intitial cross involved a very special Iris Dichotoma registered as 'Shilka'. It was found in Siberia and widely desseminated by the discover's brother see Hansen Nursery for it story. It was unusual in that many of its flowers would be double or have extra flower parts. This suggests that 'Shlka' may hve been a hybrid itself>

'Avalon Hybrids'

The Domestica side of the cross was an Avalon Hybrid between Belamcanda chinenisis and Belamcanda flabellata (a dwarf yellow). Latter Belamcanda was moved to the genus iris and the two "Species" were considered different forms of one species Iris domestica

-- BobPries - 12 Feb 2019